Lading strap fastening means



May 13, 1952 M. s. JOHNSON 2,596,855

l LADING STRAP FASTENING MEANS Filed Jan. 20, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet l May 13, 1952 M. s. JoHNsoN 2,596,855

LADING STRAP FASTENING MEANS Filed Jan. 20, 1950 SVShAeeis-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

May 13,v 19.52 M. s. JoHNsoN 2,596,855

' LADING STRAP FASTENING MEANS Filed Jan. 20, 1950 '3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TOR.

Patented May 13, 1952 LADING STRAP FASTENING MEANS Malcolm S. Johnson, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Illinois Railway Equipment Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application January 20, 1950, Serial No. 139,598

4 Claims. l

My invention relates to means, adapted more especially to be secured to the gondola type of railroad cars, for securing various types of lading ties or anchoring straps.

The invention has for its object the provision of simple and eicient means which may be readily and intimately secured to the metal portions or walls of open top metal freight cars in a manner complying with the current Association of American Railroad Loading Rules; and which permits the tie means or straps to extend at an angle to the planes of the car sides and also to permit slight movement of the lading during transit without subjecting the tie means or straps to transverse or tearing strains.

My improved fastening means lends itself to symmetrical application to the car Walls at the top and at the sides withoutregard to car post spacing, and therefore ample tie means may be provided for fastening loads full length of the car and at the ends and with a minimum of units.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an anchor or fastening unit designed to deflect blows; prevent damage during loading operations and arranged so that it will not protrude from the car body when in out-of-use position.

The above-mentioned objects and advantages, as well as other advantages inherent in the invention will all be readily comprehended from the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a gondola typ railroad car, With an intermediate portion broken away, illustrating one arrangement of my improved fastening means.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the car shown in Figure 1 and disclosing another arrangement of the fastening means.

Figure 3 is a detail top plan view on a larger scale taken on the section indicating line 3-3 in Figure 2, as viewed by the arrows.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the improved anchor unit shown applied to a section offthe car side and arranged to accommodate the tie means'or strap to extend at an angle tol the perpendicular, as disclosed in dotted lines.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the two members that constitute my improvedfanchor o r fastener unit, in inverted position.

Figure? is a sectional elevation as viewed on the line 1-1 of Figure 3.

The fastening means is intended for securing large or bulky pieces of lading on open top freight or gondola cars to prevent shifting during transit. In order to provide .means or anchoring places on the car for the tie elements, shippers heretofore have frequently burned holes in the side Walls of the metal gondola or open top car for passage of the tie rods or straps, a very objectionable method; rst, because the sharp metal at the perimeter of the cut holes resulted in lacerating or tearing the metal straps; secondly, it weakened the car construction, uniitted the car for shipment of certain commodities, necessitating the Welding of plates over the holes, thereby putting the railroads to considerable expense.

By reason of the various shapes and sizes of bulky lading a number of tie strap holding anchors or fastening means must be provided on the car, preferably a minimum number of units arranged in the mannerspecied in the A. A. R. Loading Rules. As an exemplication of the location of a plurality of the anchors, Figure 1 at a discloses the anchors or strap fastening units secured on top of the bulb or top chord of the car body frame; while Figure 2 at b discloses application of the units to the side wall of the car.

The various fastening units all are of similar construction, and each consists of a base or retainer member I0 whose body portion II preferably is substantially annular with a central socket I2; and the body portion II at diametrically opposite points is provided with peripheral lugs or posts I3, I3, of equal dimensions and of more or less sectoral shape with outwardly ilaring sides and hence of increasing width toward the outer perimeters as clearly shown in Figvure 6. The lugs or posts I3, I3, are shown with overhanging portions thereby providing increased attaching or welding surfaces for securing .or welding the base member I0 to the car wall and/ or to the top chord or bulb.

The eiploded perspective Figure 6 also discloses the link member I4, preferably of rectangular form with one side or leg provided with an enlarged or ball-like portion I5, which is adapted to fit into the socket I2 of the base member ID and thereby provide a ball-and-socket or swiveling relation between link I4 and the base member I0 when the latter has been welded or secured to the car.

With the flaring sides on the lugs or posts I3, I3 of the base or link retainer I0, it is apparent that the link I4 may angle in the direction or pull of the tie straps or elements and by reason of the swivellng relation betwe'errthe link and the retainer member the link will accommodate itself to a certain amount of shifting of the lading during transit, while still providing a direct pull or strain on the fastening means as shown in Figures 3 and Y4.

In Figure 2 at b I disclose `a number of the fastening means or anchors secured to the side Walls of lthe fcar vpreferably at preselected *spaced distances apart, with 'certaini'anchors arranged so that the link, when at rest, will hang substan- 10 tially vertically as mainly shown at the intere"- mediate portion of the car.` While inthe: anchors, especially adjacent the ends of the car, the retainer I, preferably-'issosecured-lto-'thegreater angular position as indicated in dotted'l lines in Figure 4. e

In Figure 1, I disclose the improved anchors secured on top of the angle top chord ofthe car,-

thus adapting the anchor more especially for tie 20 strapsfto be u'secllwithv lading, suchasi'large vpieces of-lmachinem Ywhliclf'i extend aloov'e the.: Walls-of the Y gondola'and" thus: enablel the straps'torfA tie elements tolexert'adownwardfpullfon .the lading.

shapedE s'or'ne'vvliat"tov conform toithe-contour .of th'e'l' carl WalL preferably. is intended." toit be virrtimately se'curedto aV -flat surface 'of' the "car'wall andtherefore is providediwithithezflatrbottomed use, will extend substantially flushf or parallel 35 with the' car"w'all` where contact therewith. is unlikely` duringA car loading and/or unloading operations;` as; however; isfithe` casefwithcertain present day Vconstructions which'v extend. atiri'ght anglesfromf'thecar side wall `to* which theyyare.: 40 y rigidly secured.'

In'- order to somewhat deflect blows that :may be' encountered f by' the anchoring means; it may be prlwided-- on top' with' rigidifying. portions or ribs and" preferably crowned` as more clearly shown -in Figures :arid 7.

I have shown andA described'what- I believe to be" the best embodiment of the invention, but

lstructural modifications` may be made without,

however; departingsfromthe spirit of myinven- 5 tion asA den'ed inthe appended claims;

What I claim'is':

1. Lading' strap fastening means for open top railroadv freight cars comprising abaseor retainer memberA adapted to bexedlysecuredto 55 the carA Wall` and.. provided With-diametrically spaced attaching'portions-havingu outwardly naring sides, while thevbody portion on itslower'face is formedy toy provide acentral: socket; andi a straight sided link Whose one side is arranged between the attaching portions, and beneath the body portion of the retainer, said link side intermediate its ends having an enlarged spherical portion arranged to seat in said socket of the retainer and Vpermit angling of the link.

2. Lading strap fastening means for railroad freight' cars comprisingfg an elongated i; straight sided link onel legor side whereof isf provided with an enlarged arcuate portion; and a retainer member for securing said link to the car Wall adapted to'rstraddle 1thefleg or side of said link having the arcuate portion and provided with angularly disl .posedA portions :atopposite sides of the link encar wall that the link 14,:mayswing-VV into'-.a-l5.

gagingintermediate portion and having flat car wall' attaching-surfaces, the link engaging portion of theretainer j'being formed to receive said enlarged arcuate portion of the link and permit the latter to angle toward the direction of the lading holding tie strap.

3.1 Lading-:strap:zifastening.; means for-:railroad freight carsxcomprising a straightsidedilinkgone legsor side.. whereof. is provided with'xan; enlarged spherical portion; and a.: retainer; memberarr ranged toz'straddle said Aleg of ftheflink;v the; lower face. of. the? body. portion...of".saidretainer; imemr b'erhaving a..socket;to receive 'saidfspherical poru tion fof.l` the. link; to.permit.rthe.:'latter to# angle .flatrerally;.theuretainerzmemberratspaocdapartpoints lugs? I3 or angularly" disposed portions which .30

havingrangularly disposed portions for:attachingI the; retainer Vto: thecar wallgandf arrangedffto loosely hold;the.:1ink in place andipermit; the dat;- terrx tor anglefirr the;l direction; of; the pull; of;` the ladingitiezmeans.;

4. Lading strapz fastening meansyfor.- opentopped railroadilcars, rcomprising all base or,v retainer member :formed-tou matchv the forma-tionof the: car wall .andpbernmovably secured."v thereto, saidiretainer. .memberzon its; lower ;fa,ce.:havi-ng an annular.` ooncavityl to: provide a, link-receiving sockel-1v the. memberY at' opposite sides ofithesocket having. downwardly-extending lugsgwitlrrlaterally enlarged` bases; and? atie `element-receivingfrV providediwith substantially'straightysides, one. of said sidesshaving a spherical enlargement adapted'to 't into the ;.so.cket:. ofy the base meinber whereby a predetermined amount ofanglng othe. linkl isv permitted.

- S J OHNSQN REFERENCES CITED.

The following references are of record: in v the file*` of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 Number Name Date;

2;059,390 Pagel, 1 Nov. 3,1936 2,226,020 l RoweV s Dec. 24, 194.0 

